Rachel S. Valladares English 101 10-2-07 Families: Are they deteriorating?

The common belief in our modern culture is that families are deteriorating or breaking down. In a traditional sense, this is somewhat true. However, if we follow the basic definition of family, we will find that this isnt true. Merriam-Websters Dictionary and Thesaurus defines family as being, a group of individuals under one roof (389). This definition perpetuates a modern, thriving, existent truth. Families as an institution are not deteriorating, but are diverse, and somehow remain the same. The family institution hasnt deteriorated. Were given this proof by the fact that families still call themselves as such. They simply come in different forms now. Patresse Ingram says that, Nontraditional families always have existed, but their numbers are increasing significantly (Our Changing Families). Popular opinion has been that this modern age doesnt include families; and that families are breaking down. I speak from experience, when I say that this isnt true, not even for some that consider themselves a nuclear family. A nuclear family is harder to find and at the bottom of statistical reports, but its still very much alive, along with these new nontraditional family types. Families have changed from the traditional, to far more diverse units of people. Like the definition from Merriam Webster says, a group of individuals under one roof (389). This means that the people under said roof arent always blood related. For various reasons, or another, these people come together to make a family. People have changed with the times, so it stands to reason that families have changed as well. Families now have different dynamics.

There are several different types of families. The more prevalent or noticeable are: single parent, nuclear, extended, blended, adoptive, foster, and other family types (Chamberlain). Each of these family types all work in their own way. A single family consists of child(ren) and a parent. A nuclear family is the traditional one; consisting of a father, mother, and children. An extended family is when a nuclear of single-parent family live with any extended family (Chamberlain). An adoptive family is where the children arent biologically related to the parents. A foster family can be nuclear, single,-parent, or blended. One or more of the children are not birth children. The child may stay with the family for an extended period through special government agencies (Chamberlain). Lastly is the family that has no clear definition and files under the clause of other. These new families come in different shapes and sizes, yet they strangely remain the same. The consistent part, in each of the families I described, was that there are parents and children. On each side, its still very much the same, except the parents have changed. Now the parent(s) can basically range anywhere from a family member to a completely new person, the child has never met before. The resounding point is that both sides find there way to the definition of parent and child--- nurturer and child. It doesnt really seem to matter how they get there, but that they have. AEM says: Contrary to popular belief, it doesn't always take a traditional mother and father to make a happy and healthy environment (Associated Content). I believe that this is true. These families function and there is mutual affection. Perhaps the only sure way to identify a family is to recognize when its clearly operating as one (Ingram, Our Changing Families). In short, the family institution is not deteriorating, but is diverse, and somehow remains the same. In this modern age, were shown that families are not falling apart, only because

they are different. Instead, were given a new measure of family. Were given several new and old examples to go by. All of these nice, new and old examples, demonstrate the core values of a family are still present. Parents still love their children, and children still love their parents. The mother or father still cares for their children. Some of these families even have the treasured, family pet. Most importantly, the way we can accurately measure a true family is how much love a child is given by his/her caretakers (family related or not) and the love that he/she gives in return (Associated Content). Now that we know that family still exists and is not deteriorating, we can know that this world isnt so bad. This world still has some good left. Wouldnt you agree?